Rocky takes command of firefighting efforts

Firefighters remain to patrol blaze

The smoke plume from the Fern Lake Fire catches the light of Friday's sunrise. The national park reports that the 600+acre fire is about 30 percent contained.
(
Walt Hester
)

A week after igniting, the Fern Lake Fire continues to smolder in Rocky Mountain National Park. The fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain that includes beetle-kill trees, which prohibited direct attack by firefighters on the ground. With little fire growth over the past few days, command of the fire was transferred back to Rocky Mountain National Park's staff Tuesday morning at 7 a.m.

The fire, first reported Oct. 9 around 2 p.m. is located west of the Fern Lake trailhead on the western edge of Moraine Park. It has burnt 673 acres, and as of Tuesday morning, was 30 percent contained. At times, more than 100 firefighters and crews worked to establish containment lines. The fire has grown little since late last week despite the high winds buffeting the area. Over the weekend, nine fire engines, 144 personnel, and one light helicopter were assigned to the fire.

Officials say the Fern Lake Fire has experienced minimal fire behavior of smoldering and creeping for the last few days. With only minimal fire spread likely through week's end, a National Incident Management Organization Team and some firefighting crews were released Tuesday, Oct 16.

Officials say firefighting crews that remain, continue to manage the Fern Lake Fire with a full suppression strategy. Increasingly gusty winds may increase fire activity. Crews will continue to patrol and monitor the fire. Top priorities of park management and fire officials are safety of visitors and firefighters and keeping the fire within park boundaries.

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Some areas of the park remain closed because of the fire. These include Upper Beaver Meadows Road and Moraine Park Campground. Bear Lake Road has reopened, but Fern Lake Road is still closed. All trails and areas accessed from north and west (right side) of Bear Lake Road remain closed, including the Cub Lake Trail, Fern Lake Trail, Hollowell Park Trail, Bierstadt Trail, Bear Lake to Fern Lake Trail, and all trails south of Trail Ridge Road, including Ute Trail. Flattop Trail is open, but access is closed to Fern Lake and Bierstadt trails. Hikers may still access Nymph, Emerald and Dream lakes. The closures are in place to ensure visitor safety and to protect park resources.

Snowdrifts have temporarily closed Trail Ridge Road at Many Parks Curve on the east side and Colorado River Trailhead on the west side. Violation of any closure notice will result in citation and fine up to $500.

While crews continue their efforts, investigators are trying to determine how and where the fire ignited. They are seeking information anyone who was in the vicinity of the Cub Lake Trail and/or the Fern Lake Trail any time before 2 p.m. Oct. 9, the day the fire was first reported. They say hikers could have pertinent information.

"If you saw anything unusual or noteworthy, investigators would like to talk with you," said a park spokesperson. "You can contact the National Park Service to share your information at 970-586-1399."

Additional information about this fire can be found at inciweb.org, or by calling (970) 586-1381. New information will be released as it becomes available.